ISLAMABAD, April 9: The government has decided to convene the National Assembly session on April 23, the minister for parliamentary affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi told Dawn on Monday. The government has twice postponed the session, first in the middle of March and then again from March 26 because of the judicial crisis.

Niazi said that not only the opposition would be given ample time to discuss issues that emerged since the last session on February 23, but it would also have sufficient agenda items to continue for twenty days up till May 15.

Niazi said that the government would take up important legislative business in the session including the proposed second part of the women protection bill.The minister said that a proposed photo session of the federal cabinet was a routine matter which had been misconstrued in some circles as a farewell session.

He said that neither the prime minister was being replaced nor any change in the cabinet was possible at a time when the re-election of president Musharraf for a new term was expected. “It will be highly unwise if any such action is implied at this juncture when the government needs support of more legislators,” he said.